§ Mr. Mallonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unfit dwellings there are in Newry rural housing district or Armagh rural housing district; and what steps he is taking to make grants available to relieve the situation.
§ Mr. Needham[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1987, c. 379]: "The Northern Ireland Housing Condition Survey 1984" published by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, estimates that 2,675 dwellings were unfit in the Newry and Mourne district council area. Of that figure, and in accordance with the Province-wide trend, the highest proportion, some 89 per cent. (2,393) were in the rural part of the district.
The housing condition survey estimates that in 1984 there were 1,515 unfit dwellings in the Armagh housing district. It is not possible without disproportionate cost to disaggregate the rural figure. A range of renovation grants are available to relieve this problem and it is anticipated that the Executive's grants scheme will continue on a similar level in 1987–88 as in 1986–87.
The improvement of unfit dwellings generally is a high priority area and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive encourages occupants to improve their dwellings using grant-aid. Recently the Executive has completed a pilot study into rural unfitness centred on Rosslea in Co. Fermanagh to assess the extent of the problem and the needs and preferences of people in the area. The findings of the report are now being considered in depth and I will look carefully at the recommendations which flow from it.